US20020189700A1 - Acrylate-filled flexible tube, which opens on contact with water - Google Patents
Acrylate-filled flexible tube, which opens on contact with water Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020189700A1 US20020189700A1 US10/174,048 US17404802A US2002189700A1 US 20020189700 A1 US20020189700 A1 US 20020189700A1 US 17404802 A US17404802 A US 17404802A US 2002189700 A1 US2002189700 A1 US 2002189700A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- water
- contact
- flexible tube
- fabric
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 27
- NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-M Acrylate Chemical compound [O-]C(=O)C=C NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 title claims description 7
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 claims description 17
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000004372 Polyvinyl alcohol Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920002451 polyvinyl alcohol Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 235000019422 polyvinyl alcohol Nutrition 0.000 claims description 4
- FHVDTGUDJYJELY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 6-{[2-carboxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(phosphanyloxy)oxan-3-yl]oxy}-4,5-dihydroxy-3-phosphanyloxane-2-carboxylic acid Chemical group O1C(C(O)=O)C(P)C(O)C(O)C1OC1C(C(O)=O)OC(OP)C(O)C1O FHVDTGUDJYJELY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229940072056 alginate Drugs 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920000615 alginic acid Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000010443 alginic acid Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002195 soluble material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008961 swelling Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G9/00—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water
- H02G9/06—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water in underground tubes or conduits; Tubes or conduits therefor
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
- G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
- G02B6/4459—Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/02—Details
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
- G02B6/4401—Optical cables
- G02B6/4429—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
- G02B6/44384—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a flexible tube filled with a substance which expands on contact with water, the tube being wholly or partly of a material which loses consistency on contact with water, enabling said substance to expand.
- any water which accidentally enters the outer cable sheath must therefore be prevented from flowing along it and aggravating the damage.
- powdered or granular acrylate is disposed between the conductive wires or optical fibres during cable manufacture (so that it lies on the inside of the sheath). This material has the property of swelling considerably on contact with water to create a “plug” which blocks water passage.
- the acrylate hence performs that function known to cable manufacturers as water blocking, the acrylate powder being known as WB powder.
- An object of the present invention is therefore to find a simple and economical solution to the aforestated problem.
- the said object is attained by a flexible tube filled with a substance which expands on contact with water, the tube being wholly or partly formed of a material which loses consistency on contact with water, enabling said substance to expand.
- the tube is formed from a fabric and the expandable substance is in the form of powder and/or granules, the fabric being sufficiently compact to prevent passage of the powder or granules through it.
- the fabric tube can be formed wholly or partly of threads of a material which loses consistency on contact with water.
- the fabric tube is formed from a strip of fabric folded into a tube, the two longitudinal edges of the strip being sewn together, to obtain the tube, by a thread of a material which loses consistency on contact with water; or the two edges of the strip being glued together with a glue which loses consistency on contact with water.
- the fabric used to form the flexible tube may be polyvinylalcohol because polyvinylalcohol expands upon contact with water.
- the expanding substance may be powdered or granular acrylate or a similar substance.
- the fabric tube is formed from a strip of fabric formed wholly or partly of threads of said material which on contact with water loses consistency, the two longitudinal edges of the strip being sewn together by a thread of said material or even by any thread.
- the fabric tube consists of a tubular braid formed wholly or partly of threads of a material which loses consistency on contact with water.
- a material of this type which can be conveniently used is polyvinylalcohol, obtainable commercially under the brand name of Kuralon KII (registered trademark), which is a water-soluble material.
- the material may also be an alginate.
- the flexible tube filled with expandable substance, is fed to the conventional cable manufacturing machines together with the conductive wires or optical fibres, the tube being on the inside of the external sheath within the formed cable.
- a machine for forming the flexible tube filled with said expanding substance is in any event a small machine, which can easily be enclosed within a sealed container. Even when provided with the relative suction and powder removal system, such a container is of small dimensions if compared with that which would have to be provided to enclose a cable manufacturing machine.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Insulated Conductors (AREA)
- Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
- Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)
- Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
- Massaging Devices (AREA)
- Pipe Accessories (AREA)
- Revetment (AREA)
Abstract
The flexible tube is filled with a substance which expands on contact with water. The tube is wholly or partly of a material which loses consistency on contact with water, enabling the substance to expand. The filled tube is insertable into an energy transportation or telecommunications cable.
Description
- The present invention relates to a flexible tube filled with a substance which expands on contact with water, the tube being wholly or partly of a material which loses consistency on contact with water, enabling said substance to expand.
- As is known to the expert of the art, if for any reason water enters energy transportation or telecommunications cables (whether electricity conductor cables or fibre optic cables), the cable undergoes damage. The damage is greater the longer the cable portion into which the water has penetrated. This drawback is particularly damaging for fibre optic cables.
- Any water which accidentally enters the outer cable sheath must therefore be prevented from flowing along it and aggravating the damage. To achieve this result, powdered or granular acrylate is disposed between the conductive wires or optical fibres during cable manufacture (so that it lies on the inside of the sheath). This material has the property of swelling considerably on contact with water to create a “plug” which blocks water passage. The acrylate hence performs that function known to cable manufacturers as water blocking, the acrylate powder being known as WB powder.
- However acrylate is known in this sector to be an extremely dangerous material, which must be handled with maximum care by cable manufacturing operators. In this respect, if inhaled, the bronchial tubes swell and become blocked.
- The machines currently used by cable manufacturers to construct cables are machines which have been designed taking account of all the complex operations involved in cable manufacture, however the WB powder problem has been ignored, this being a problem which has arisen only recently. The solution could be to enclose such a machine in an air-tight container with a suction and powder removal system, however this would involve problems including high cost.
- Cable manufacturers are therefore particularly interested in anything which can reduce the risks or simplify safety procedures accompanying the manufacture of such cables.
- An object of the present invention is therefore to find a simple and economical solution to the aforestated problem. The said object is attained by a flexible tube filled with a substance which expands on contact with water, the tube being wholly or partly formed of a material which loses consistency on contact with water, enabling said substance to expand.
- According to one embodiment of the invention, the tube is formed from a fabric and the expandable substance is in the form of powder and/or granules, the fabric being sufficiently compact to prevent passage of the powder or granules through it.
- To cause the fabric tube to open, it can be formed wholly or partly of threads of a material which loses consistency on contact with water.
- According to a particularly simple embodiment, the fabric tube is formed from a strip of fabric folded into a tube, the two longitudinal edges of the strip being sewn together, to obtain the tube, by a thread of a material which loses consistency on contact with water; or the two edges of the strip being glued together with a glue which loses consistency on contact with water.
- The fabric used to form the flexible tube may be polyvinylalcohol because polyvinylalcohol expands upon contact with water. Other such materials, i.e. materials that expand upon contact with water, would be known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, the expanding substance may be powdered or granular acrylate or a similar substance.
- According to another embodiment, the fabric tube is formed from a strip of fabric formed wholly or partly of threads of said material which on contact with water loses consistency, the two longitudinal edges of the strip being sewn together by a thread of said material or even by any thread. According to a further embodiment, the fabric tube consists of a tubular braid formed wholly or partly of threads of a material which loses consistency on contact with water.
- A material of this type which can be conveniently used is polyvinylalcohol, obtainable commercially under the brand name of Kuralon KII (registered trademark), which is a water-soluble material. The material may also be an alginate.
- The flexible tube, filled with expandable substance, is fed to the conventional cable manufacturing machines together with the conductive wires or optical fibres, the tube being on the inside of the external sheath within the formed cable.
- To fully appreciate the present invention, it should be noted that a machine for forming the flexible tube filled with said expanding substance is in any event a small machine, which can easily be enclosed within a sealed container. Even when provided with the relative suction and powder removal system, such a container is of small dimensions if compared with that which would have to be provided to enclose a cable manufacturing machine.
Claims (10)
1. A flexible tube filed with a substance which expands on contact with water, the tube being wholly or partly of a material which loses consistency on contact with water, enabling said substance to expand.
2. A flexible tube as claimed in claim 1 , the tube being insertable into an energy transportation or telecommunications cable.
3. A flexible tube as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tube is formed from a fabric, the expandable substance being in the form of powder and/or granules, the fabric being sufficiently compact to prevent the powder or granules passing through it.
4. A flexible tube as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the fabric tube consists wholly or partly of threads of a material which loses consistency on contact with water.
5. A flexible tube as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the fabric tube is formed from a fabric strip folded into a tube, the two longitudinal edges of the strip being sewn together, to obtain the tube, by a thread of a material which loses consistency on contact with water, or the two edges being glued together by a glue which loses consistency on contact with water.
6. A flexible tube as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the fabric tube is formed from a strip of fabric formed wholly or partly of threads of said material which on contact with water loses consistency, the two longitudinal edges of the strip being sewn together by a thread of said material or even by any thread.
7. A flexible tube as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the fabric tube consists of a tubular braid formed wholly or partly from threads of said material which loses consistency ono contact with water.
8. A flexible tube as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the material which wholly or partly forms the tube is alginate.
9. A flexible tube as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the filling substance is acrylate.
10. A flexible tube as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said material is polyvinylalcohol.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITMI2001A001279 | 2001-06-18 | ||
| IT2001MI001279A ITMI20011279A1 (en) | 2001-06-18 | 2001-06-18 | FLEXIBLE TUBE FILLED WITH ACRYLATE THAT OPENS ON CONTACT WITH WATER |
| ITMIA001279 | 2001-06-18 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US20020189700A1 true US20020189700A1 (en) | 2002-12-19 |
| US6539980B2 US6539980B2 (en) | 2003-04-01 |
Family
ID=11447887
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US10/174,048 Expired - Fee Related US6539980B2 (en) | 2001-06-18 | 2002-06-18 | Acrylate-filled flexible tube, which opens on contact with water |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US6539980B2 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP1271731A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2003031038A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR0202463A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2390830A1 (en) |
| IT (1) | ITMI20011279A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109568803A (en) * | 2018-11-28 | 2019-04-05 | 中国科学院深圳先进技术研究院 | A kind of flexible optical fibre implant, application method and photoelectrode array and application |
Family Cites Families (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2578163B1 (en) * | 1985-03-01 | 1990-04-13 | Beghin Say Sa | ABSORBENT STRUCTURE FOR SINGLE USE ARTICLE. |
| US4659589A (en) * | 1985-06-21 | 1987-04-21 | Renbec International Corp. | Process for applying a sealing composition |
| US4749730A (en) * | 1985-06-21 | 1988-06-07 | Renbec International Corp. | Two-component sealant composition |
| US5070597A (en) * | 1985-07-19 | 1991-12-10 | Raychem Corporation | Tubular article |
| DE3639895C1 (en) * | 1986-11-21 | 1988-03-24 | Freudenberg Carl Fa | Swellable cable bandage and process for its manufacture |
| FR2640547B1 (en) * | 1988-12-20 | 1991-03-29 | Intissel Sa | COMPOSITE MATERIAL CAPABLE OF INFLATING IN THE PRESENCE OF WATER, SUPPORTS FOR USE IN THE PRODUCTION THEREOF AND USES THEREOF |
| US5246770A (en) * | 1988-12-20 | 1993-09-21 | Intissel S.A. | Composite material which is capable of swelling in the presence of water, supports which can be used for manufacture of same and uses thereof |
| DE4418319C3 (en) * | 1994-05-26 | 2001-08-09 | Stockhausen Chem Fab Gmbh | Layered body for the absorption of liquids and its manufacture and use |
| DE19505709A1 (en) * | 1995-02-20 | 1996-08-22 | Stockhausen Chem Fab Gmbh | Layered body for the absorption of liquids and its production and use |
| EP1004122B1 (en) * | 1997-08-14 | 2005-10-12 | CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina | Coaxial cable and method of making same |
| US6195486B1 (en) * | 1998-06-02 | 2001-02-27 | Siecor Operations, Llc | Fiber optic cable having a component with an absorptive polymer coating and a method of making the cable |
| JP2003526804A (en) * | 1998-10-07 | 2003-09-09 | ピレリー・カビ・エ・システミ・ソチエタ・ペル・アツィオーニ | Fiber optic cable |
-
2001
- 2001-06-18 IT IT2001MI001279A patent/ITMI20011279A1/en unknown
-
2002
- 2002-05-23 EP EP02011328A patent/EP1271731A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2002-06-04 JP JP2002162304A patent/JP2003031038A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2002-06-13 BR BR0202463-2A patent/BR0202463A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2002-06-17 CA CA002390830A patent/CA2390830A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2002-06-18 US US10/174,048 patent/US6539980B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109568803A (en) * | 2018-11-28 | 2019-04-05 | 中国科学院深圳先进技术研究院 | A kind of flexible optical fibre implant, application method and photoelectrode array and application |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ITMI20011279A0 (en) | 2001-06-18 |
| ITMI20011279A1 (en) | 2002-12-18 |
| US6539980B2 (en) | 2003-04-01 |
| CA2390830A1 (en) | 2002-12-18 |
| JP2003031038A (en) | 2003-01-31 |
| BR0202463A (en) | 2003-04-01 |
| EP1271731A3 (en) | 2003-05-21 |
| EP1271731A2 (en) | 2003-01-02 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TARFIL S.R.L., ITALY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TARTUFOLI, CARLO;REEL/FRAME:013018/0123 Effective date: 20020305 |
|
| CC | Certificate of correction | ||
| REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
| FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
| SULP | Surcharge for late payment | ||
| REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
| LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
| STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
| FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20110401 |